Greens predict gains in local elections
THE Green Party's bid to break through as a major political force countrywide, has been bolstered by a doubling in the number of local election candidates.
The party's leader John Gormley confidently predicted yesterday that the Greens would increase their number of seats in the upcoming local elections, which are crucial to the party's ambitions of extending its influence in the Dail in four years' time.
Following the recent review of constituency boundaries, the party is expected to benefit hugely from the decision to abolish almost all of the country's three-seater wards.
"We have more candidates at this stage than we had five years ago. In fact, we've doubled the number; so I think we will have a very good local election," Mr Gormley said.
"I can't give you the exact figures as yet, but I do think we are going to increase our seats."
Last time out in 2004, the Greens were beaten into fifth place behind the Progressive Democrats, when they won a total of 18 seats.
However, while the Greens saw their seat number increase by 10, the PDs' fell by six to 19.
Emergency
Now, the party is actively urging PD councillors seeking an emergency exit, to join their liberal colleagues in the Green Party.
Others, who are already members of the party, such as former MEP Patricia McKenna, could struggle to obtain a nomination to run in the local elections.
Her recent high-profile opposition to the Lisbon Treaty for the People's Movement organisation is said to have irked many within the party.
The official Green Party line yesterday was that "we don't know her intentions. She didn't put her name forward."
With regard to the party's hopes of winning a European seat in the Dublin constituency, Mr Gormley conceded that this would prove a more difficult task if it was reduced to just three seats.
"It will be a very tough contest, no doubt about it. We'll just have to look at the mathematics of it," he said.
- Aine Kerr Political Correspondent
